Switch



Dec. 6, 1938. c. F. HusEMoLLER 2,139,586

SWITCH Filed Maron 7, 1958 mslm y q.. j

10H16, 340335)? IIJQ INVENTOR e' @mfg/mw@ 76' ATToRN EYs Patented Dec.6, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to switches and has for an object to provide anelectric switch adapted to control signal circuits more particularlydirection signal circuits for automobiles.

* An object of the invention is to provide a switch having a movableswitch contact provided with a ball and a current supply terminal plateprovided with a socket receiving the ball and eiiecting good electricalcontact when the switch is selectively moved to any of its circuitclosing positions.

A further object is to provide a switch including two plates ofinsulation between which the ball and the conductor terminal are connedby pressure of springs acting against one of the plates to force theother plate against the closure of the switch housing so that goodelectrical con tact between the ball and the terminal will be maintainedbecause wear upon the parts will be automatically taken up by thesprings.

A further object is to provide a switch of this character which will beformed of a few strong simple and durable parts, which will beinexpensive to manufacture and which will not easily get out of order.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists ofcertain novel details of construction and combinations of partshereinafter fully described and claimed, it being understood thatvarious modifications may be resorted to within the scope of theappended claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any ofthe advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a top plan view oi a switch constructed in accordance withthe invention.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional View of the switch taken on the line 2-2of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the switch taken from cornerto corner of the switch on the line 3-3 of Figure l.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the current supply terminal and showing thesocket thereof.

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of the switch with the bottom of thehousing removed and showing circuit connections between the switch anddirection indicating signal lamps on the iront and back of a motorvehicle.

Referring now to the drawing in which like characters of referencedesignate similar parts in the various views, l0 designates a housingwhich is closed at the top by a cover plate II secured in place byscrews I2. The cover plate is provided with a central circular openingI3 to are confined against each other and against the 5 cover plate by apair of helical springs I5, best shown in Figure 3, which are mounted inseats I6 on the bottom ci the housing and bear with their upper endsagainst the lower face of the lowermost insulating plate I4.

The upper plate is provided in the top face with an axially disposedcruciform slot I'I, best shown in Figure 1, and the iowermost plate I4is provided with a similar cruciform slot I8, best shown in Figure 2,the branches of the slot I8 being in the same plane as the `branches ofthe slot I'I. Both cruciform slots merge with respective senilsphericalopenings IQ and 2G formed in the opposed faces of the plates I3 and I4to receive a ball 2I formed integral with a movable contact 22 whichdepends below the ball, there being a stem 23 disposed in alignment withthe contact and extending from the top face of the ball, this stemterminating in a knob 24.

A current supply terminal 25, best shown in Figure 4, is countersunk inthe lower plate I4 and is provided near one end with an integral socket26 of substantially hemispherical contour to snugly receive the ball 2I. The pressure of the springs I5 hold the socket and bali in goodelectrical contact and the springs take up wear upon the ball and socketso that good electrical contact will be maintained throughout the lifeof the device. The current supply terminal 25 is provided at one endwith a binding post 2l, best shown in Figures 2 and 5 to receive aconductor wire 28 through which current is supplied from the battery 23or other source oi current. The binding post projects through thelowermost insulating plate I4.

A plurality of stationary switch contacts 3D, best shown in Figures land 5 are arranged radially on the bottom face of the lo-wermost inandi4 are yieldably mounted in the housing. Consequently both plates may bepressed downward as a unit against the tension of the springs i5 andthis movement is made use of to ground one side or the horn circuit onthe casing I6 for blowing the horn as will now be described.

A U-shaped conductor 33 is provided with legs 34 which are secured tothe plates i3 and I4 by bolts 35 passing through both plates, and asbest shown in Figures 3 and 5 a conductor wire 36 from the battery 29 isled through the horn 31 and connected by a wire 38 to one of the bolts35. When the knob E4 is grasped and depressed to push down both platesi3 and M against the tension of the springs l5 the grounding contact 33will engage the bottom of the housing l0 and close the circuit throughthe horn.

As best shown diagrammatically in Figure 5 a signal lamp casing 39 maybe disposed on the rear of the mot r vehicle and signal lamp casing 4i?may be disposed on the front of the vehicle in associated relationshipwith the headlights. The stationary switch contacts 3l of the switch,corresponding to stop, left, back and right movements of the vehicle,may be connected electrically by suitable circuit wires to respectivesignal circuit lamps lll in the signal casing 39 which lamps may beconnected in series with respective signal lamps l2 in the signal lampson the front of the vehicle. Thus when the movable switch Contact isthrown to indicate any desired intention of the driver the correspondingsignal circuits will be closed to simultaneously illuminate respectivesignal lamps on the front and on the back of the vehicle.

From the above description it is thought that the construction andoperation of the invention will be fully understood without furtherexplanation.

What is claimed is:

l. A switch comprising a casing, a cover for the casing, a pair ofsuperposed plates of insulating material slidably mounted as a unit inthe casing, springs conned under tension between the bottom of thecasing and one of the plates, a ciu'- rent supply terminal plateinterposed between the plates of insulation and having a socket, saidinsulating plates being provided with superposed aligned cruciiorinslots communicating with said soc ret, a ball confined in said socketbetween the plates of insulation, a. switch contact carried by the balland extending toward the bottom of the casing, a stern carried by thebail and extending toward the tcp of the casing, a knob on the end ofsaid stein, said stein and Contact being receivable in said cruciiormslots in the circuit closing positions of said contact, and a pluralityof stationary switch contacts arranged radially on the bottom face ofthe low'ermost insulating plate and selectively engageable by saidmovable switch contact.

2. A switch comprising a casing, a cover for the casing, a pair ofsuperposed plates of insulating material slidably mounted as a unit inthe casing, springs conned under tension between the bottom of thecasing and one of the plates, a current supply terminal plate interposedbetween the plates of insulation and having a socket, said insulatingplates being provided with superposed aligned cruciform slotscommunicating with said socket, a ball confined in said socket betweenthe plates of insulation, a switch contact carried by the ball andextending toward the bottom of the casing, a stern carried by the balland extending toward the top of the casing, a knob on the end of saidstern, said stem and Contact being receivable in said cruciform slots inthe circuit closing positions of said contact, a plurality of stationaryswitch contacts arranged radially on the bottom face of the lowermostinsulating plate and selectively engageable by said movable switchcontact, a U-shaped switch contact disposed on the bottom face of thelowermost plate, and an electrical conductor terminal engaged throughsaid insulating plates and connected to the last named U-shaped switchcontact, pressure upon the knob moving said insulating plates againstthe tension of said springs to effect contact of said U-shaped switchcontact with the bottom of the casing and complete a circuit throughsaid terminal.

3. A switch comprising a casing, a cover for the casing, a pair ofsuperposed plates of insulating material slidably mounted as a unit inthe casing, springs coniined under tension between the bottoni of thecasing and one of the plates, a current supply terminal plate interposedbetween the plates of insulation and having a socket, said insulatingplates being provided with superposed aligned cruciforrn slotscommunicating with said socket, a ball confined in said socket betweenthe plates of insulation, a switch Contact carried by the ball andextending toward the bottom of the casing, a stem carried by the balland extending toward the top of the casing, a knob on the end of saidstem, said stern and contact being receivable in said cruciform slots inthe circuit closing positions of said contact, a plurality of stationaryswitch contacts .arranged radially on the bottom face of the lowermostinsulating plate, said sta.- tionary switch contacts having the ree endsdirected downwardly toward the bottom oi the casing and adapted to beengaged by said movable switch contacts when the latter is in circuitclosing position in selected portions of the cruciform slot in thebottom insulating plate.

CHRISTIAN F. HUSEMOLLER.

